bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

David McNeill

It takes about 17 minutes to traverse Tokyo's consumer generation gap. In the city's youth mecca of Harajuku, goths, lolitas, rockers and  young fashionistas fill a shopping landscape crowded with boutiques and brand-name franchises. 
Nine stops  away on the city's Yamanote  loop line in Sugamo, the river of human traffic turns greyer and slower as it files past shops selling thermal underwear, hearing aids and orthopaedic socks. Shop entrances have been modified to accommodate wheelchairs, and hand-written signs replace neon. Think Harajuku for pensioners.
'I come here twice a week with my friends,' says Hisako Yanagida, 90, in between belting out oldies in a karaoke bar called Songs from the Old Days. 'Meeting and shopping with people my own age helps stop me from going senile.' 
Japan is  transforming into a 'type of aged society never experienced before', according to a government white paper issued last year. With one-fifth of its 128 million people aged 65 or over, the nation has the largest percentage of seniors on the planet. By the middle of the century, when the average life expectancy for Japanese men is expected to  reach 86, and 90 for women, fully one-third of the population will be pensioners. 
That inverted population pyramid is already straining Japan's welfare system. But some are finding opportunities amid the nation's worst economic crisis since the second world war. According to the government, the average senior couple has more than 24 million yen (HK$1.8 million) in savings and average monthly spending per household peaks in the 60 to 69 age bracket. Many businesses want a slice of the so-called silver market. 
Sugamo is the retail cutting edge of this phenomenon. The 1km main shopping street, Jizo-dori,  boasts 10 chemists, half a dozen or more outlets selling walking aids, funeral parlours and a karaoke bar where the song list stops in the 1970s. 
Red underwear, a traditional gift for  those over 60 as it's reputed to  ward off sickness, hangs outside many shops, like the street's unofficial flag. Unlike many of its more garish neighbours around the city, there are few fast-food restaurants or flashing neon signs to strain tired old retinas. 
'People come here from miles away, even from the countryside,' says Mariko Saito, the owner of Songs from the Old Days. Inside the bar, scenes from old samurai dramas flicker on the karaoke screen as Yanagida entertains a handful of elderly customers. The bar is a well-known haunt for pensioners. 'It's hopping at the weekends,' says Saito. 'Sometimes old folk who are completely blind come in with members of their family to read the lyrics for them.'
Sugamo's spiritual heart is the 400-year-old  Koganji Buddhist temple, home of the Togenuki statue,  which has  a reputation  for healing the sick.  
'Of course, most people don't believe that coming here will make them better. But it can't do any harm,'  says Michiko Morioka, 79, who suns herself   in the temple's grounds, crowded with elderly people discussing back and joint pain. 'We come to talk and shop.'
As the temple grew in popularity among the old,  businesses sprang up or adapted to cater to them, says Hiroshi Shimichi, owner of a furniture store on the main street. 
'They were coming in and asking for walking aids,' he says.  'So I began to stock them about a year ago. So far, sales haven't been harmed by the recession.'
Sugamo is one harbinger of what some observers believe could be a major consumer  shift as businesses retool to  cater  to a demographic they have largely neglected.
 'A lot of companies were unsure or even afraid of how to deal with older people,' says Florian Kohlbacher, author of The Silver Market Phenomenon: Business Opportunities in an Era of Demographic Change. 'They think it will have a negative impact on their image, but this is changing.'
Although still underdeveloped, the market is promising, Kohlbacher  says. 'Japanese firms were among the first to react to the challenge of the demographic change and are constantly coming up with products and innovative services.'
Examples abound. Kyoto-based underwear maker Wacoal has studied more than 40,000 human bodies  to determine how the  body changes over time and  develop the perfect fit for the elderly, says Kohlbacher. Carmaker Nissan is trying to develop a vehicle for the elderly that will respond more sharply to dulled driving instincts. Telecoms giant NTT  has developed phones with easy-to-read keys  and functions. 
 Those over 55 are among the fastest-rising group of new customers in Japan for fitness clubs, dating agencies and holiday outings. Even Tokyo Disneyland  is trying to lure some of that grey yen. 
The changes are  more remarkable because before the 1990s, Japan's elderly demographic was average in size - until its huge strides in diet and health care began to kick in. Longer life expectancy  coupled with the plummeting birth rate have forced a rethink for many companies, even those catering to market niches once considered unthinkable for the elderly - such as adult entertainment and sex. 
Several firms have launched product lines dubbed 'elderly porn', an increasingly popular genre with its own star: 75-year-old  Shigeo Tokuda.  A veteran of 350 films, Tokuda entered the industry late in life after decades  in the tourism industry. He told a Japanese magazine last year that his success and his ambition to keep working until his 80s were a sign of the times. 'I think as Japan ages, people like me will become more important because we show that we can still have rich lives.'
In Tokyo, Osaka and other big cities, some firms now operate outcall prostitution services for pensioners and the immobile. Known euphemistically as 'delivery-health', the services charge between 22,000 and 54,000 yen for sessions ranging from 70 minutes to three hours, and include optional services such as pickups for wheelchair-bound customers in 'barrier-free' people carriers from home to hotel. 
The ageing phenomenon has its dark side. For those who can't afford the cost of buying into the silver consumer market, prospects are bleak: life on  meagre and shrinking welfare benefits. 
 In recent years  authorities have noticed crime rates rising among those over 60. Robbery, assault and murder by pensioners are on the rise amid what the media has dubbed a 'grey crime wave'. The percentage of  those over 65 in prison has  tripled in a decade and exceeds 12 per cent of the total prison population - four times the figure in Britain. 
Japan has the highest rate of incarceration for pensioners in the industrialised world and a custom-designed prison - Onomichi  in Hiroshima, which is equipped with handrails, pushcarts and walking aids. The inmates include a pensioner who beat up his care worker after he threatened to resign and an elderly married couple  who held up a convenience store. The eldest inmate is 89. 
As the slump deepens, the problem of elderly crime is likely  to worsen.  But businesses and government hope  the future  resembles Sugamo more than Onomichi. With cash in their pockets, the generation who built  post-war Japan into an economic superpower can chat, shop and even  check in at  love hotels. And, of course, there is always singing. 
'Sometimes I get lonely and think I've been forgotten about,' says Yanagida, whose husband died 27 years ago. 'Here I feel like I'm part of the world again,' she says, before returning for her fourth stint at the karaoke machine.




Grey matters